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05-16-2014, 06:14 AM
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#26
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Dojo: Allegheny Aikido
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 170
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
Cherie Cornmesser wrote:
I used to bring cookies tothe dojo for everyone who atteded class on radom Thursday nights. It was popular with existing students but didn't get them to train more regularly or bring in any new ones. Of course that was't really the goAl ayway. We jsut had a lot of leftover cookies on Wednessdays, at my old job.
We have had a little sucess getting people to start by offering a 6 week "beginers course" at a discounted rate. We would have members hang flyers anyplace they thought they could to attract iterest. It seems to work well for the February/March sessio but ot so well for April/May. But we are a college town. Getting them to stay however is a whole other challange.
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If I don't get cookies again (or at least monkey treats) I'm totally quitting!
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05-16-2014, 08:03 AM
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#27
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Dojo: Manila Aikido Club
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 32
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Free trial.
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05-16-2014, 09:51 AM
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#28
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Dojo: Charlotte Aikikai Agatsu Dojo
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,944
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
Eduardo Hills wrote:
Free trial.
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how do you get lawyers to work for free?
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05-16-2014, 02:13 PM
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#29
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Dojo: Oak Park Aikikai, IL
Location: Chicago, IL
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 157
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
Phi Truong wrote:
how do you get lawyers to work for free?
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Funny..........
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05-16-2014, 03:09 PM
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#30
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Dojo: Allegheny Aikido, Pitsburgh PA
Location: Pittsburgh PA
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 948
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
Greg Maroda wrote:
If I don't get cookies again (or at least monkey treats) I'm totally quitting!
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Fine I'll bring you some banana's and prozac next week.
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05-17-2014, 06:33 AM
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#31
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Dojo: Allegheny Aikido
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 170
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
Cherie Cornmesser wrote:
Fine I'll bring you some banana's and prozac next week.
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I could probably use with more Potassium and SSRIs.
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05-19-2014, 06:07 AM
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#32
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Location: Ohio
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 82
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Perhaps instead of charging a flat fee for membership you could try implementing a sliding fee scale where each member pays a different amount depending on their ability to pay, say from $20 to $100 a month. The idea is that having someone on the mat paying a little is better than not having them on the mat at all and paying nothing. Perhaps evaluate this with each member every six months to determine if they feel like contributing more at that point.
This scheme is being used at the place I train and has resulted in a doubling of membership since it came into effect.
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05-19-2014, 06:55 AM
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#33
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Location: Massachusetts
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,202
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
Joshua Landin wrote:
This scheme is being used at the place I train and has resulted in a doubling of membership since it came into effect.
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How has it affected revenue?
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05-20-2014, 03:09 PM
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#34
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Dojo: Boulder Aikikai
Location: Denver, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 372
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
Joshua Landin wrote:
Perhaps instead of charging a flat fee for membership you could try implementing a sliding fee scale where each member pays a different amount depending on their ability to pay, say from $20 to $100 a month.
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Is there friction when a $100 student finds out that others are paying $20?
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05-20-2014, 05:26 PM
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#35
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Location: Left Coast
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4,339
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
I've recently joined the board of the nonprofit that runs our dojo and because of my interest am coordinating outreach.
In the remote past there were public demos but it has been many years. So we are doing a public demo at our local Farmers Market in early June, around end of school year, and looking at a community open house in Aug around the start of school year, with demos, free short classes, barbecue, etc.
And I'll be meeting with other local nonprofits looking at partnership opportunities as well as working on alternate/special classes like the six week series I'm just finishing up on Surviving Falls - basically how to fall for non-martial artists, aimed at dinged but fit middle aged folks.
I agree we cannot compete on their terms with MMA schools...but like with a disability, that leaves open the question...ok, what CAN we do? :-)
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Janet Rosen
http://www.zanshinart.com
"peace will enter when hate is gone"--percy mayfield
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05-20-2014, 05:35 PM
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#36
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Dojo: Sakumeikan N.E. Aikkai .Newcastle upon Tyne.
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,266
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
Stephen Nichol wrote:
Have you tried cookies?
Otherwise you could just ask people why they are interested in Aikido. From their answer you may be able to figure out how to structure 'some' of the classes to address the interests of the various people who share them.
When someone leaves or simply stops coming you can ask them what their reasons are. As you said for the majority it will other life situations but for those that leave for reasons with something to do with the dojo (or person(s) in it) specifically... well, having a sort of 'exit interview' can help answer some of the questions you have.
With that information you can decide what you can do and more importantly, if you want to and if it is worth whatever effort may be involved.
But trust me on the cookies.
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Hi Stephen,
What cookies would you suggest you give potential students?Chocolate Chipped, Coconut flavoured, Milk chocolate, minty ones?Do you also provide them with a cup of cocoa, tea or a Starbucks special? Do you find the local cafes take umbrage on you for taking away some of their trade?Are you planning a food kitchen in the near future?I think soup and a crusty role would be a more effective ploy to generate interest than a cookie.
Cheers, Joe
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05-20-2014, 06:54 PM
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#37
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Location: Ohio
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 82
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
Dan Rubin wrote:
Is there friction when a $100 student finds out that others are paying $20?
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No. Everyone is aware of the sliding fee scale system and we all know that not everyone pays the same to train. No one cares about something so petty as who pays more than so-and-so. As for me I'm just happy to have more training partners on the mat.
As for how it affected revenue, I have no idea about that as I'm not privy to the financials but typically more members paying dues = more revenue.
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05-20-2014, 08:50 PM
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#38
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,415
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
Joshua Landin wrote:
As for how it affected revenue, I have no idea about that as I'm not privy to the financials but typically more members paying dues = more revenue.
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If you sell below cost you can make it up on volume.
dps
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05-21-2014, 09:06 AM
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#39
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Location: Massachusetts
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,202
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
David Skaggs wrote:
If you sell below cost you can make it up on volume.
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Yeah, that was where I was going...
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05-21-2014, 09:41 AM
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#40
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Dojo: AIA, Los Angeles, CA
Location: California
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,604
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
David Skaggs wrote:
If you sell below cost you can make it up on volume.
dps
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Um, no, if you sell below cost you just lose more with more volume. You can sell some below cost if there are others paying above. Or other sources of income generated by getting butts in the seats so to speak. High volume and selling below cost usually means you go broke faster.
I am curious about how those students who pay more feel about others paying less. Who decides who deserves the lower rate? I often hear people complaining about how expensive this or that is who live in vastly nicer places, have nicer cars, take nicer trips than I could ever even hope to have. And yet I find a way to pay my share just the same. And for my daughter's private school, well, there's not a snowball's chance in hell we could afford to send her there without the school's financial aid assistance. But they use a service that other, vastly better off families complain about because they ask such probing questions like what sort of vacation you take, what cars you drive, the value of your home, your income, etc. At least they have a mechanism for making the process a bit more fair.
Anyway, I'm just curious as the dojo cho for our dojo. I've been trying to figure something out for a few students.
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05-21-2014, 09:48 AM
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#41
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,415
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
Keith Larman wrote:
Um, no, if you sell below cost you just lose more with more volume.
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Um, it was a joke Keith, an old joke. The smiley face should have clued you to that.
dps
Last edited by dps : 05-21-2014 at 09:53 AM.
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05-21-2014, 10:06 AM
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#42
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Dojo: AIA, Los Angeles, CA
Location: California
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,604
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
David Skaggs wrote:
Um, it was a joke Keith, an old joke. The smiley face should have clued you to that.
dps
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Oops, too sleepy still...
carry on...
Am curious about how folk determine who gets what...
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05-21-2014, 10:54 AM
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#43
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Location: Left Coast
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4,339
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
Keith Larman wrote:
Oops, too sleepy still...
carry on...
Am curious about how folk determine who gets what...
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We have been having this conversation about "scholarships" esp for our kids classes - we've been pretty loose and generous and so far we can afford to be, but figuring it behooves us to look at local standards we are checking with other nonprofits who offer kids programs (in music, dance, etc) to see what forms they are using.
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Janet Rosen
http://www.zanshinart.com
"peace will enter when hate is gone"--percy mayfield
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05-21-2014, 11:30 AM
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#44
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Location: Ohio
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 82
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
Keith Larman wrote:
Um, no, if you sell below cost you just lose more with more volume. You can sell some below cost if there are others paying above. Or other sources of income generated by getting butts in the seats so to speak. High volume and selling below cost usually means you go broke faster.
I am curious about how those students who pay more feel about others paying less. Who decides who deserves the lower rate? I often hear people complaining about how expensive this or that is who live in vastly nicer places, have nicer cars, take nicer trips than I could ever even hope to have. And yet I find a way to pay my share just the same. And for my daughter's private school, well, there's not a snowball's chance in hell we could afford to send her there without the school's financial aid assistance. But they use a service that other, vastly better off families complain about because they ask such probing questions like what sort of vacation you take, what cars you drive, the value of your home, your income, etc. At least they have a mechanism for making the process a bit more fair.
Anyway, I'm just curious as the dojo cho for our dojo. I've been trying to figure something out for a few students.
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Hey Keith,
I'm going to try to get you in touch with our dojo cho so he can answer the questions you have.
If you're curious this is where I train: http://toledoaikido.blogspot.com/
Josh
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05-21-2014, 12:31 PM
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#45
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Dojo: Sakumeikan N.E. Aikkai .Newcastle upon Tyne.
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,266
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
Joshua Landin wrote:
No. Everyone is aware of the sliding fee scale system and we all know that not everyone pays the same to train. No one cares about something so petty as who pays more than so-and-so. As for me I'm just happy to have more training partners on the mat.
As for how it affected revenue, I have no idea about that as I'm not privy to the financials but typically more members paying dues = more revenue.
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Dear Joshua,
I guess the students who pay the 20dollars are not going to make a fuss in case they have to pay more.Is this a weekly fee or what? More members paying a more equitable sum of money [eg each person paying a median amount ] may well generate more cash??
I have noticed that Aikidoka have no problem paying fpr theatre tickets, cds , nights out on the town and usually the fees in the U.K are comparatively cheap.Cheers, Joe.
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05-21-2014, 02:11 PM
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#46
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Dojo: Tampa Judo and Aikido Dojo, Tampa, Fl
Location: Tampa, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 179
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Am I bragging or lamenting???? Hmmm, I guess I am bragging because my students (now 41) like the classes, they like what they learn and aren't intimidated by the instr's rank and they can approach him anytime they want. The women (23 to be exact, up from 17 2 weeks ago) love the manner of teaching also. How are your students in the frozen north? I bet the penguins in your classes are fast learners, aren't they. However, for you to get more "students", I wouldn't bring cookies----you might try sardines.
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05-22-2014, 10:43 AM
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#47
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Dojo: Tampa, FL
Location: Tampa, Florida
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 86
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Not intimidated by your rank? Not now but, when I first started out for sure. Nothing is more awe inspiring than being taught by a 12th Dan. Besides, you never brought us cookies, it was raw meat and you told us to fight for it like starved pit bulls.
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05-22-2014, 12:55 PM
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#48
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Dojo: Tampa Judo and Aikido Dojo, Tampa, Fl
Location: Tampa, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 179
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
12th dan????? You know something I don't???? That's a whole lot of cookies there. I wonder how many sardines it would be?????
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05-22-2014, 01:41 PM
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#49
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,318
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
Joshua Landin wrote:
Hey Keith,
I'm going to try to get you in touch with our dojo cho so he can answer the questions you have.
If you're curious this is where I train: http://toledoaikido.blogspot.com/
Josh
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A little additional context might be helpful, too.
This particular dojo is co-located with a Buddhist temple, where the chief instructor is also the senior Dharma teacher. Sliding fee scales are unusual in the commercial/retail world, but quite common in the non-profit/social services world. Buddhism in particular has a lot of tradition around community support. So I suspect this approach works better in this context than it might in a for-profit dojo with a more "fee for services" attitude.
Katherine
PS Please say hi to Jay from me when you see him next.
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05-22-2014, 01:48 PM
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#50
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,318
Offline
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Re: Aikido Dojo Recruitment...????
Quote:
Keith Larman wrote:
Um, no, if you sell below cost you just lose more with more volume. You can sell some below cost if there are others paying above. Or other sources of income generated by getting butts in the seats so to speak. High volume and selling below cost usually means you go broke faster.
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Except a dojo has high fixed costs -- rent, instructor support, etc. -- but very low incremental costs. Adding an additional student costs very little, and most of those costs (uniform, organizational fees) can be passed on to the students themselves.
Moreover, each individual class is like a theatre performance: once it's over, it's done. You can't put it on a shelf and sell it later. So, like day-of-show "rush" tickets on Broadway, you'll take any revenue that you can get from a teaching slot that would otherwise be empty.
Katherine
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